Recent content by darenwelsh

A few updates since my last post: I installed a 2nd battery and the CTEK 250SE controller in the engine bay. I ran a power bus along the passenger side to the rear and then split to two new power panels on each side in the rear stowage area. Now I've got 12V power in the form of Anderson Power...

Alstrom Point, Utah

I can agree with some of what MAST4R says about going anywhere with stock suspension. As he says, I did the same Grand Bench trail as he did with my stock TEP + KDSS. But I was bottoming out a bunch trying to keep the same pace as him on the faster parts. And in the slow crawling parts, I was...

I have been lazy in posting updates here, so there's lots to catch up on. I got my amateur radio operator license (Ham radio) and installed a Kenwood D710GA in my 4Runner. My call sign is WD5EVA, in case you're monitoring UHF/VHF in the Houston area. I typically beacon on APRS when I'm driving...

Are your Bud Built sliders straight out or angled up? I'm trying to choose which ones to get and it's hard to tell from pictures how far they stick out past the stock tires and rims. It looks like your bump outs stick out past the tires, but I'm wondering if that it because yours are straight...

Aside from potentially getting hung up on a rock, what other reasons would cause you to not want a bump out? I'm wondering if you were on a narrow shelf road if a bump out would be bad since it could push you over an edge. Is that a legitimate concern?

White Rim Trail, looking east

For the photos of the BudBuilt skids with the bare metal, is that aluminum or stainless? Or did you install steel without painting them first for a reason?

Pro tip ... I did the same thing and eventually it'll loosen up and rotate downward. If you rotate it so the knob is down instead of up, it'll rest on the dash and keep it at a good level. Obviously you can remove the dash and tighten it back up but this hopefully helps.

A friend from work and I joined forces on a new venture called Space City Runner. In our first trip, we met up in Utah to explore Bears Ears and Canyonlands. I got into a little trouble on the way there thanks to the snow and ice in Colorado. Check out our first episode and subscribe to this...

Here are some photos from my recent trip to Bears Ears and Canyonlands. I'm definitely going back. It was amazing.

I had a little backward slide on the way up Medano Pass from the east and I had to break the ice on several water crossings going down the west side, but I eventually made it. I ended up camping at Natural Arch north of Del Norte.

I'm planning a trip from Texas through SW Colorado to the Moab area. Specifically, I'm definitely going to hit White Rim Trail in Canyonlands and then I'll see what else I want to do in the area. I think I'll be fine with the weather in November in that area, but let me know if I'm wrong. Where...

I finally got all the videos done. Hope you enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDbw-o2a5jj6K6m7-RncEaQxS0MNH1t7l

I think I have joined the club, unfortunately. After having the k9 roof rack for about a year, I'm seeing the first signs of a leak. Water is leaking out of the passenger seat belt reel. When I installed the rack, I put a bunch of silicone with the spacers. The vehicle has been through some...